The Forever Stone by Gloria Repp Read Free Book Online Page A

on the table, opened the document, and went to stand in front of the window.
    She read with care, scrolling back once or twice to check what he’d said on a previous page. Length was suitable, content original. Technically, it was flawless. Depending on what the editor wanted, it might do. But it could be better.
    Without looking at him, she said, “It is informative, doctor. Shaped well. Sentences properly put together. You might work on some of the passive constructions.”
    He left the window and sat down across from her. “Mrs. Burke.”
    Reluctantly she met his eyes, caught his don’t-kid-me look.
    “It isn’t very good.” His voice was as crisp as his writing. “Can it be fixed?”
    Might as well find out. For Timothy’s sake, she’d do her best.
    “I think it can, but it will cost you.”
    “What do you charge?”
    “I’m not talking about money. If you want to work on it, you’ll see what I mean.”
    “I want to work on it,” he said quietly.
    “Remember, you’re the one who said that.” She took a slow breath, thinking through an approach. “How long since you left Alaska?”
    “Four years.”
    “How long did you live there?”
    “Most of my life.”
    “Good. Now I’d like you to go sit down on that sofa, lean back, and close your eyes. Talk about someone in Alaska who made a deep impression on you.”
    As he stood, he paused and gave her a look she couldn’t interpret.
    He started in a monotone, telling her about Denny Woods, the young Inuit who’d sold him his first dogs.
    His voice warmed as he described how they became friends, went hunting, and ran their dogs together. Denny didn’t have much of a problem with alcohol, just took a drink now and then. He’d prayed for Denny and had seen him start coming to their little church.
    “One day—” He sounded as if the words were choking him. “One day, Denny hitched a plane ride to McGrath with a friend of his, a pilot who’d had a few at the bar. Their plane went down somewhere in the Alaska Range. We never did find it.”
    He stood to his feet with a jerk, but when he finally spoke, his voice was impersonal. “Is that enough of a story for you, Mrs. Burke?”
    She suppressed her pity. Plenty of emotion there. If he could manage it, the writing would be good.
    She waited, not answering, letting him collect himself. He went over to pour himself another mug of tea. He picked up her mug and filled it too.
    Finally he sat down at the table and looked at her.
    She kept her voice as detached as his. “Thank you, doctor. The reason I had you do that is because your piece has all of its necessary body parts, but it is clinically dead. No pulse.”
    He frowned, but she ignored him.
    “And here my analogy breaks down because you can give it life. As it stands, it’s merely a documentary. To be effective, it needs heart—some reality, some passion.”
    She glanced up. The gray eyes burned with intensity, and she continued with more assurance. “When you told me about Denny, I saw that heart. You chose well. His story fits with your topic. If you can weave it into what you’ve written, you’ll succeed.”
    He was quiet for a minute. She hadn’t expected a burst of gratitude, but to see the lines deepen on his face was disconcerting.
    “Thank you,” he said. “I’ll work on it.” He stood to his feet and pulled out his cell phone, presumably to check for messages. While he was doing that, she slid her laptop into its bag and left.
    Timothy was waiting on a customer. Just as well, because she didn’t feel like talking. That look on the doctor’s face . . . It wasn’t an offended ego. Pain, maybe. Pain related to something more than the death of a good friend. Why had he left Alaska?

CHAPTER 5
     
Looks as if mousiness is not easily shed.
I stood by while Kent,
the handsome do-gooder,
came barreling into my house.
I never used to be like this.
I need to toughen up.
~ Journal
     
    Back at the Manor, she decided to do one more thing